Births

James and Elizabeth O'Quinn of Pocahontas have announced the birth of a daughter, born May 2, 2008, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro. The baby weighed seven pounds, eight ounces, and has been named Haylie Elizabeth O'Quinn.

Grandparents are Peggy Reagan and Terry and Jody Roberds, all of Pocahontas, and David O'Quinn of San Bernardino, Calif.

Scott and Sheila Cole of Paragould and Todd and Cynthia Milburn of Rector announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Andrea Beth Cole, to Adam Joseph Davis, son of Robert A. and Peggy Davis and Gary and Susan Blevins, all of Pocahontas.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Eugene and Sonjia Cole of Paragould and Carl and Frances Herring of Portia. She is a graduate of Walnut Ridge High School and Black River Technical College, where she earned her LPN certification. She is employed as an LPN at Clopton Clinic in Jonesboro.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Ray Snodgrass of Pocahontas. He is a graduate of Pocahontas High School and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a bachelor's degree in business finance. He is employed as a sales agent for AIG American General.

The couple will exchange vows on June 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Walnut Ridge Country Club. All family and friends are invited to the ceremony and reception to follow at the club.

Tom and Norma Tillman of Walnut Ridge announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Brandi Dyan Tillman, to Earl Franklin Owens, son of Richard and Carrol Owens of Sedgwick.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Wesley and Jewell Roberts and the late Max and Eunice Tillman, who all lived in Walnut Ridge.

She is a 1999 graduate of Walnut Ridge High School and graduated from Black River Technical College in Pocahontas with an associate's degree in early childhood. She is attending Arkansas State University in Jonesboro pursuing a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and is employed at the ASU/ABC Childhood Development Center in Jonesboro.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Imogene Jaske of St. Louis, the late Mr. and Mrs. Charlie B. Owens, who lived at Sedgwick, and the late Richard Franklin.

He is a 1995 graduate of Hoxie High School and is a fireman for the city of Walnut Ridge.

The couple will exchange vows on June 7 at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut Ridge. All family and friends are invited.

Born June 20, 1924, she was the daughter of Oliver and Nellie Long Johnson. She grew up in Walnut Ridge and was salutatorian of her graduating class at Walnut Ridge High School. She worked as secretary to Walnut Ridge School Superintendent A.W. Rainwater for many years before moving to Jonesboro.

She was the co-owner and bookkeeper for Gilliam-Horton Furniture Store in Jonesboro. She was a member of the Walnut Ridge Sewing Club and of Nettleton Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Rudy Johnson and Roy Johnson.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Harris Gilliam; a daughter, Laura Gilliam Jones and husband Michael, Jonesboro; and two grandchildren, Maggie Jones and Seth Jones.

Funeral was Saturday at 2 p.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro with Jimmy Ferguson officiating. Burial was in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home.

James T. "J.T." Rogers, 78, of Hoxie, died May 10, 2008, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, following a lengthy illness.

Born June 30, 1929, at Alicia, he was the son of James R. and Laura Tatum Rogers. He was the owner of Rogers Real Estate Agency in Hoxie. He was a World War II veteran, serving as a sergeant in the Air Force. He served as principal of Imboden Schools for several years and was principal of Hoxie Schools during the integration. He was of the Methodist belief.

Bonnie Nadine Smith, 64, of Walnut Ridge, died May 11, 2008, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.

Born Feb. 18, 1944, in Walnut Ridge, she was the daughter of Ray Edgar and Myrtle Frisbee Brown. She retired after teaching school for the Walnut Ridge Public Schools for 30 years. She was a member of the Arkansas Association of Retired Teachers and the Eastern Star at Black Rock. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Walnut Ridge, where she was a member of U.M.W. Administration Board and was a former choir member, Sunday school teacher and decorator for the church.

Curtis Melton Smith, 82, of Walnut Ridge, died May 7, 2008, at Lawrence Hall Nursing Center.
Born March 18, 1926, at Mammoth Spring, he was the son of Toliver and Cora King Smith. He was a retired carpenter for the Children's Colony at Jonesboro and was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church at Little Brown.

Survivors include his wife, Thelma Taylor Smith, whom he married June 22, 1947, at Sedgwick; a son, Gary Smith and wife Linda; a daughter, Romano Coleman and husband Wes, Georgetown, Texas; a sister, Beuliah Cardwell, Sterling, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral was Saturday at 2 p.m. in Higginbotham Chapel with Rev. James Noblin officiating. Burial was in Old Military Cemetery, near Sedgwick, under the direction of Higginbotham Funeral Service.

Born at Clover Bend, he was the son of Seth and Florence Riddle Williams. He lived in Rockford, Ill., for many years before returning to Lawrence County. He was a retired factory worker and was a member of Main Street Church of Christ.

A World War II Army veteran, he was captured in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 and was held in a German prison camp for 11 months. He was liberated when American forces overtook the camp and was taken to a U.S. Army Hospital in France before returning to the front line.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Escue Williams; a stepdaughter, Barbara Arnold Smith; a stepson, Jake Arnold Jr.; and two brothers, Jack Williams and Boyce Williams.